After Placement
Once your procedure is over you will go back to the prep and recovery area. Here a nurse will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and the site where your procedure was performed. Let the nurse know if you are experiencing any pain or discomfort at this time. After 1 hour of recovery you will be discharged to go home or sent back to your hospital room.
At Home Diet You may resume your regular diet after discharge. You should drink at least six, 8 oz. glasses of water over the next 24 hours. Water helps to clear the dye used during the procedure. Activity On the day you leave the hospital, limit your activities. No physical exercise or heavy lifting (greater than 10 lbs.) for the next 3 days. Do not drive for 24 hours after the procedure. You may resume all other daily activities 24 hours after the test. Call the Interventional Radiology Department right away at 312.926.5200 Monday – Friday 8am-5pm or, if it is after hours or on the weekend, please call the hospital operator at 312.926.2000 and ask them to page the Interventional Radiology Fellow on-call if you notice any of the following:
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Follow-up Care – Permanent Filters
If you had a permanent filter placed you will follow up with your referring or primary doctor. They will discuss with you the next steps in the prevention of DVT and PE. Follow-up Care – Retrievable Filters If you had a retrievable filter placed a nurse or doctor from the IVC Filter Clinic which is part of the department of interventional radiology will follow up with you and your doctor. 2 Week Follow up The IVC Filter Clinic Coordinator will evaluate your progress including if you were discharged from the hospital, had surgery, were started on blood thinning medications, or are now at decreased risk for DVT and PE. 2-6 Weeks Post Placement The Interventional Radiologist will contact your primary doctor to discuss removal of the filter. If it is decided it is safe to remove your filter the IVC Filter Clinic Coordinator will contact you. If indicated, you may be scheduled for a CT scan of your abdomen and pelvis to assess for clots trapped in the filter. You may need a CT if you have increased swelling in your legs, pain in your back, legs, or abdomen, are at high risk for clots to be caught in the filter, or your doctor found clots in your IVC when the filter was placed. You may also be seen in the IVC filter clinic before your filter is removed. At your clinic visit you will meet with the doctor and nurse coordinator to discuss filter removal. If it is decided that your filter will be removed you will be scheduled for this procedure in the department of Interventional Radiology. |